Warner Bros.’s merger with Discovery has led to quite a few big changes in the studio’s schedule of films. DCEU films like Batgirl were canceled, along with many DC-Comic-based shows. Some less drastic changes included the shuffling of release dates too.
One of the most awaited DCEU films, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, was also shifted from December 22, 2022, to March 17, 2023. According to the studio, this delay resulted from the Shazam! sequel filling Aquaman 2’s initial release slot, which has been delayed to Christmas 2023.
But why was Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom delayed to the end of 2023 in the first place? Following fans’ urging for Amber Heard’s removal from the 2023 film, after her divorce trial’s verdict against ex-husband Johnny Depp, WB had to cut Heard’s involvement in the upcoming movie to a much smaller role.
Amber Heard played the role of Jason Momoa’s Arthur Curry’s love interest, and thus, her recasting resulted in heavy reshoots scheduled for the film. The reshoots pushed Aquaman 2’s release by nine months, which led to fans assuming Shazam 2 might be undergoing reshoots after it took Aquaman 2’s initial release date.
But these rumors were put to rest by Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ director David F. Sandberg! The Shazam! director took to Instagram, holding a surprise Q&A session for Labor Day.
The Swedish filmmaker answered fans’ questions submitted on his Instagram stories and debunked all rumors when asked about Shazam 2 reshoots. When a fan asked if Shazam 2 was going through reshoots or if it was “fake news,” the director confirmed that they’re “definitely not shooting anymore.”
The director also stated that the film’s “retooling” rumors are false and the final cut has been “locked for quite some time,” and they’re doing “final mix, color, and VFX right now.”
The Shazam! director also provided some insight into Warner bros. Discovery’s decision to shift the release date for the 2023 film.
They figured Aquaman’s previous date was better for us, and that’s the reason we moved.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods will release in theaters on March 17, 2023, with Billy Batson and his Shazam family battling the daughters of Atlas, Hespera and Kalypso, who have arrived to take back the powers the Wizard had given them wrongly.
About Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Shazam! Fury of the Gods is an upcoming American superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name. It will be a sequel to 2019’s Shazam, directed by David F. Sandberg, who’s returned for the sequel.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods follows Billy Batson and his superhero siblings take on Hespera and Kalypso, daughters of Atlas, who have come to strip the six heroes of their powers, claiming the wizard Shazam’s decision of giving Billy the power of the gods was a mistake.
The movie starring Zachary Levi, Jack Dylan Grazer, Lucy Liu, and Helen Mirren, is set to release on March 15, 2023.
Source: Instagram
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